On average, about 30 cases of this particular strain of Salmonella are confirmed in Texas in a year.

Salmonella is a bacterial infection that lives in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals. The bacteria are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment.

In some cases, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. The infection can spread from the intestines to the bloodstream, and then to other body sites and can cause death. Elderly people, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.